FedEx Cup standings: Post-PLAYERS top ten breakdown
7. Jordan Spieth
1192 points, 11 events (avg. 108.36)
1 win, 5 top 10s
Last two weeks: DNP – Wells Fargo, MC – THE PLAYERS
I raised a few eyebrows last week when I referred to Spieth as a “sleeper” candidate at TPC Sawgrass. Granted, that might have been a bit of a stretch, but unfortunately, the results bore it out. A third consecutive PLAYERS missed cut was a setback for Spieth, to be sure, but is there anything to actually be worried about here?
Spieth has only missed two cuts all year, but they came in his last three individual starts, sandwiching a T-11 finish at the Masters and a fourth-place effort with Ryan Palmer in New Orleans. He’s also shot over par in five of those eight solo rounds. His last round over 72 came all the way back in the second round of the 2016 Open – when tough weather had scores skyrocketing in the afternoon at Royal Troon.
Most surprisingly, Spieth’s usually stellar putting is suffering the most this season, ranking just 39th in Strokes Gained: Putting and 99th in one-putt percentage. Spieth finished 2016 second on Tour in both those categories, and that is showing the most in his recent results.
The good news? It’s also the aspect of his game I expect him to be able to fix the easiest. As reserved as Spieth is before and after rounds, you can see the frustration in his face when things are going sideways on the course. If he can get the putter right, Spieth can rattle off two or three wins before you know it.